Turner v. State, 431 So. 2d 1017

DELL, Judge.

Henry James Turner appeals from a judgment of conviction and sentence thereon. He contends the trial court erred by denying his motion to withdraw his guilty plea made when the trial judge imposed restitution in addition to the sentence which the trial judge forecast during a plea conference.

The record demonstrates that the length of sentence coincided with the discussions before the court. However, the court never raised the possibility of restitution during the plea negotiations, and neither the judge nor the prosecutor gave appellant notice and opportunity to be heard upon the issue. Reeves v. State, 372 So.2d 1016 (Fla. 2d DCA 1979). Further, the trial judge imposed restitution on appellant alone for the full amount of the victim‘s claimed damages, despite the fact that four defendants perpetrated the crimes. The State did not show what portion of the victim‘s damages arose from appellant‘s acts, rather than those of his codefendants. See Fresneda v. State, 347 So.2d 1021 (Fla. 1977). Finally, the trial judge did not comply with Section 775.089, Florida Statutes (1981) in that he did not determine appellant‘s ability to pay, his financial resources or the burden that payment would impose upon him.

Accordingly, we affirm appellant‘s conviction and the prison sentence, and remand with directions to strike that part of the sentence which imposes restitution.

CONVICTION AFFIRMED; SENTENCE VACATED IN PART.

HURLEY and WALDEN, JJ., concur.

Case Details

Case Name: Turner v. State

Court Name: District Court of Appeal of Florida

Date Published: Mar 30, 1983

Citations: 431 So. 2d 1017; 82-1879

Docket Number: 82-1879

Court Abbreviation: Fla. Dist. Ct. App.